By cultivating enhanced attention, a quieter mind, greater peace, and healing within, mindfulness increases emotional resilience, mental clarity and overall well-being.
I started meditating in 1994 when I discovered that, despite finishing my dissertation, I still had a busy mind. I studied with Shinzen Young for six years, then with Jason Siff for two years, and I have studied with Rev. Hye Wol Sunim since 2001. I started this path with the desire to quiet my mind and to experience a greater sense of peace in my daily life. Since 2002, I have been teaching others what I have learned.
My mindfulness meditation classes and workshops provide the basic skills and experience required for the development of a lifelong mindfulness practice. My approach to meditation is based on the Buddha’s discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (the Satipatthana Sutta) in which he explains the conditions under which mindfulness arises and how to navigate the hindrances we experience along the way.
I organize my classes around short periods of meditation and an exploration of the meditation experience. I help students identify their mental habit patterns by exploring what they actually do while meditating. As our attention becomes more stable, we feel more concentrated, calm and peaceful. Cultivating a daily practice trains the mind to respond with less reactivity as it changes the physical structure of the brain to better process emotion and new information. We become less judgmental, more appreciative of others, more openhearted towards the world and happier in our lives.
I video record and livestream weekly dhamma talks with Rev. Hye Wol Sunim.
Why Should I Consider Mindfulness Meditation?
By developing awareness through meditation, you will learn to observe your thoughts and emotions without immediate reaction, reducing stress and increasing emotional regulation.
Regular practice has been shown to reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure and improve focus, but you don’t need a book to tell you this after you have experienced it yourself. In my direct experience, mindfulness strengthens attention, stabilizes mental habits and fosters a sense of inner calm. By training the mind to be less reactive, you can navigate challenges with greater ease and emotional balance.
Are you ready to begin experiencing this new focus and peace?
Is meditation good for more than just internal peace?
Yes, a significant advantage to practicing mindfulness meditation is its impact on relationships. When we become less judgmental toward ourselves, we cultivate deeper connections and increased empathy toward others. This shift creates a more harmonious life, making us not only happier but also better partners, friends and colleagues within our spheres of love and influence.
